Born in North Lawndale, Rochelle Jackson is a pillar of her neighborhood. Graduating from Wilbur Wright College and Harper College, Ms. Jackson utilized her background to pursue a career in social work. She has spent nearly thirty years working at the Juvenile Protective Association, JPA, as an administrative specialist. Furthermore, Ms. Jackson is a Research Assistant and has extensive involvement in The Capella Project, a twenty-year study of high-risk families. Outside of work, Ms. Jackson is heavily involved in improving transportation safety and equality. Notably, Ms. Jackson serves as a Chair of the Transportation/ Infrastructure Committee of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC), won Advocate of the Year from the Active Transportation Alliance, and volunteers on the Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council.
What would you say is the most significant consequence of disproportionate access to transportation?
Ms. Jackson: The consequence for us is people losing their jobs. Unemployment causes violence because when people don’t have a job, they don’t have any hope, and they start turning into… you know, different people. That’s just my opinion; not saying it happens to everybody, but you know it takes away jobs. That was a no-brainer for us to think about. When transportation is no longer accessible for you; there is no longer a way to get to work. If you don’t have a car, you have to go out of your way or a roundabout way to get to work. They create the bus stops for communities that don’t really need them, but you take away the bus routes from communities that do.
Who would you say is one of the most prominent influences in your life?
Ms. Jackson: My sixth-grade teacher was a big influence. She was like a second mother to me. She always groomed us to be young ladies: present yourself like a lady, fight when you need to fight, and walk away from a fight you know you can’t win. She never meant it in a physical sense, always in a mental sense. You pick and choose the fight. The ones you see you can’t win, you walk away from them. You can choose to fight another fight…that was always a big influence for me, from her.
Outside of all your community work, what are some of your hobbies?
Ms. Jackson: I crochet a lot. I teach two crochet classes in North Lawndale; one at the Douglas Library and one recently at Franklin Park. I make a lot of hats for my project. I started a Hats for the Homeless project several years ago. So I would make a lot of hats and donate them to the homeless shelter. I would have somebody deliver them for me because I am not one of those people who have to take pictures and say, “oh look what I can do” or “look what I did for this place.” People just get my hats, and that’s all I care about.